Australia's Great Southern Coastline

Arrive at 3:00pm for check-in. Board your ship in Melbourne at 4:00pm where there is time to settle into your cabin before our 5:00pm departure. Join the expedition team in the Bridge Deck Lounge for an introduction to the Southern Coastline. As dusk falls meet your fellow travellers, the Captain and crew for the Captain’s Welcome Drinks.

Located along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay is part of the Great Otway National Park. Explore the natural beauty of this location by strolling the park to spot the 3 cascades of the Triplet Falls and walk to the lookout for panoramic views of the seascape.

View the rugged splendor of the renowned 12 Apostles that lie in the Southern Ocean off Victoria’s coast. The limestone cliffs are subject to constant erosion from the impact of storms and winds, which carved the caves in the cliffs. When the caves eroded into arches and collapsed, their 45m high rocky remains were left along the shore.

Enjoy a walking town tour of this historic heritage settlement. Grand public buildings sit side by side with restored whalers’ cottages and Georgian styled merchant homes. Continue to the infamous Shipwreck Coast. This stretch of coastline is graveyard to around 700 submerged wrecks, leaving behind their fascinating stories. Captain Matthew Flinders notably said he had never seen a ‘more fearful section of coastline’.

Spend time today in the historic and picturesque town of Robe. Located on the Limestone Coast, it offers incredible views and unique food, drink and shopping opportunities. One of Australia’s most character-filled small towns, Robe is known for its cottage industries. Spend your day exploring through the quaint shops and craft breweries or relax on the beach and watch surfers catching a wave.

Here we will hike through the Coffin Bay National Park to get an understanding of the forests and environment – enjoy the interpretation of the heathlands, mallee forest and she-oak woodlands. Discover the tranquil bays and snorkel or kayak with the chance to spot some of the marine life. There is also the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable wild cuisine experience – enjoy a small boat cruise along the oyster beds to collect your oysters and enjoy them fresh from the sea.

Flinders Island is located about 35km from the Eyre Peninsula Coast and has been owned by the Woolford family since 1979, where they fish for abalone and are working to establish a safe haven for vulnerable native species. Meet Tobin and Jonas Woolford on Front Beach, learn of the island’s history and taste freshly pan-seared abalone. Explore the historic shearing sheds and head to Bryant’s Bay to visit the Kapara shipwreck.

For 100km along the Great Australian Bight runs these awe inspiring 120m tall white chalky Bunda Cliffs. This 300m thick limestone slab was once part of an ancient seabed, and now forms the Nullarbor Plain, extending far inland many layers containing many fossils. This is a very rarely explored area of the Australian coastline with over 1000 islands and our visit will be an adventurous exploration of the rocky islands and sweeping beaches of the region.

Located just 15km off the coast of Esperance, Woody Island’s stands of tall trees have given it its name. Surrounded by pristine, clear waters, you will have the opportunity to experience the snorkel trail in Shearwater Bay. The cool southern waters provide excellent visibility for your journey of discovery. There is whaling history throughout the area as well as numerous wrecks, including the second-largest diveable wreck in Australia, the Sanko Harvest, which lays between 18 to 40 metres.

Along quiet Lucky Bay, kangaroos are known to laze on the whitest sand in Australia. Enjoy time on the beach meeting the friendly wildlife and the turquoise water is wonderful for a quick swim. If time permits, enjoy a walk to Thistle Cove, taking in the peaceful beauty of the national park, which is home to pygmy possums, western grey kangaroos and many colourful native wildflowers.

Albany is the oldest colonial settlement in Western Australia, predating Perth and Fremantle by over two years. For many years, it was the colony’s only deep-water port, having a place of eminence on shipping services between Britain and its Australian colonies. The town has a role in the ANZAC legend, being the last port of call for troop ships departing with infantry and cavalry horses from Australia in the First World War.

Augusta is the most south-western town in Australia and is nearby to the towering karri timber of Boranup Forest and spectacular Jewel Cave. We will visit Jewel Cave, an awe-inspiring and extremely well decorated cave, containing many beautiful examples of delicate helictites, cave coral, pendulites, a very large stalagmite called ‘The Karri Forest’ and beautiful examples of flowstone such as ‘The Frozen Waterfall’ and ‘The Organ-Pipes’. Remarkably, fossilised remains of several Tasmanian Tigers have been discovered within Jewel Cave.

Located on the southwest coast on a serene open sandy bay, Hamelin Bay is known for the abundance of stingrays which frequent the bay. Snorkel with these friendly giant rays, which can measure up to 2 meters wide, and love to swim up close to snorkellers. Enjoy a guided tour of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia. Climb the tower to be rewarded with a vast seascape with crashing waves and surrounding wilderness. Walk the grounds and explore the beautifully restored heritage site.

Arrive in Fremantle at 8:00am as we say goodbye to fellow travellers and crew before a 9:00am disembarkation. A complimentary post-cruise transfers to the airport or CBD will be available.